Les Invalides is a historic complex located in France that was originally built as a hospital and retirement home for war veterans by King Louis XIV in the late 17th century.
Today, Les Invalides Paris is a museum and a burial site for some of France’s most renowned military figures.
The Les Invalides offers a unique opportunity to learn about France’s military history, admire impressive architecture, and pay homage to prominent figures such as Napoleon Bonaparte.
This article covers everything you must know before booking Paris Les Invalides tickets.
Table of contents
- What to expect at Les Invalides
- Where to book tickets
- How do online tickets work
- Cost of Les Invalides ticket
- Les Invalides tickets
- Les Invalides + Panthéon combo ticket
- How to reach Les Invalides Paris
- Opening hours of Les Invalides
- How long does the tour take
- Best time to visit Les Invalides
- Les Invalides facts
- FAQs about the Les Invalides
What to expect at Les Invalides
Les Invalides in Paris is a historical complex with several attractions and points of interest.
Here’s what you can expect when visiting Les Invalides:
– Musée de l’Armée (Army Museum): It showcases a vast collection of weapons, armor, uniforms, artwork, and historical artifacts from different periods of French military history.
– Dôme des Invalides: It is an impressive golden-domed building within the complex and houses the tomb of one of France’s most renowned military leaders, Napoleon Bonaparte.
– Église du Dôme: It is a beautiful church with interiors featuring stunning architecture, intricate marble work, and stunning frescoes.
– Musée de l’Ordre de la Libération: It is a museum dedicated to the French Resistance during World War II and showcases exhibits related to the liberation of France, including artifacts, documents, photographs, and personal belongings of resistance fighters.
– Military History Exhibits: Les Invalides houses various galleries and exhibitions focused on military history besides the main museum.
– Gardens and Courtyards: Les Invalides boasts beautiful gardens and courtyards, providing a serene environment to relax and stroll.
When visiting Les Invalides, ensure you have ample time to explore the various attractions and take in this iconic complex’s historical significance and architectural beauty.
Where to book tickets
Tickets for Les Invalides are available online in advance or at the attraction.
Online ticket prices tend to be cheaper than tickets at the venue.
When you buy online, you can avoid the long queues at the attraction’s ticket counters.
Because some attractions sell a limited number of tickets, during peak days they may sell out. Booking early helps avoid last-minute disappointments.
How do online tickets work
Go to the Les Invalides booking page, and select your preferred date and number of tickets to buy.
Once you purchase tickets, they get delivered to your email address.
There is no need to get printouts of the ticket.
You can show the e-ticket on your smartphone when you visit the attraction.
Remember to bring your official IDs.
Cost of Les Invalides ticket
Tickets for Les Invalides cost €15 for all visitors above the age of 18 years.
Children up to 17 years old can enter for free.
EU citizens with ID, aged 18 to 25 years, can also enter Les Invalides Military Museum and Napoleon’s Tomb for free.
Les Invalides tickets
While planning a trip to Les Invalides, you can opt for a skip-the-line, guided, or combo tour.
Napoleon’s Tomb & Army Museum entry tickets
With this Les Invalides ticket, you can explore one of the most prestigious monuments in Paris.
Under the magnificent golden Dôme des Invalides, see Napoleon I’s mausoleum.
Explore the collections and wander through the armor and weapons of the kings of France.
Gaze around at swords, cannons, uniforms, paintings, photographs, and personal belongings of France’s major figures.
Look beyond the artifacts, and participate in interactive digital experiences with devices that allow visitors to better understand some of the battles that forged the country’s history.
This ticket grants you access to the permanent collections, temporary exhibitions, Dome Church, Museum of Plans-Reliefs, and Museum of l’Ordre de la Libération.
Note that your entry ticket gives access to family activities if spots are available, and you buy a child ticket for €8 per child.
Ticket Prices
Adult Ticket (18+ years): €16
Child Ticket (up to 17 years): Free
EU Citizen Ticket (18 to 25 years): Free
Musée de l’Armée – Les Invalides Dome: Private Guided Tour
Booking this private guided tour gives you a skip-the-line ticket to the Musée de l’Armée – Les Invalides.
The licensed tour guide takes you on a private tour with your group of a maximum of 8 people.
Discover France’s tumultuous military history and important figures like Louis XIV and Napoleon Bonaparte.
Your private tour begins in the courtyard of the Invalides, where you’ll learn about the building’s 17th-century roots as a veteran’s hospital under Louis XIV, and take a walk through the cathedral, dedicated to his troops.
Show the e-ticket on your smartphone to the guide at the meeting point outside the main gate of Invalides.
Make sure you arrive at least 15 minutes before the starting time.
The duration of the tour is 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Ticket Prices
Adult Ticket (18+ years): €200
Child Ticket (up to 17 years): €111
Les Invalides + Panthéon combo ticket
There are a few iconic tourist attractions near Les Invalides, some of which are just a few minutes walk away, and combo tickets can help you visit them all by booking just once!
You can buy Les Invalides tickets in combination with tickets for Panthéon.
Combo tickets offer great discounts, making them worth every penny!
Distance: 3 km (1.9 miles)
Time Taken: 8 minutes by car
Book once and enhance your experience with this convenient combination of Les Invalides and Panthéon.
When you book this combo, you get access to permanent and temporary exhibitions at Les Invalides, along with access to Panthéon.
Get 10% off on the purchase of this combo ticket.
Ticket Cost: €24
Save time & money! Buy Paris Museum Pass and visit over 60 famous attractions in and around Paris. Book now and explore museums and monuments such as the Louvre and Versailles.
How to reach Les Invalides Paris
Paris Les Invalides is a complex of buildings in the 7th arrondissement of Paris.
The distance between Eiffel Tower and Les Invalides is just 1.5 km (.9 miles).
Address: 75007, Paris, France. Get Directions.
The Les Invalides Paris can be easily reached by public transport or car.
By Bus
You can take bus 82, 92, 86, 80, and 28 to a few nearby bus stops like Vauban Hôtel des Invalides, Invalides – La Tour Maubourg, École Militaire, and Rue Cler.
By Subway
Take subway line 8 to École Militaire and La Tour-Maubourg subway stations which are just a 10-minute walk from the attraction.
By Car
If you’re driving by car, turn on Google Maps and get started.
There are numerous parking lots around the museum.
Opening hours of Les Invalides
Les Invalides opens on all days except Tuesdays at 10 am and closes at 6 pm.
On Tuesdays, Les Invalides Museum is open till 9 pm.
The museums and attractions inside Les Invalides are closed on 1 January, 1 May, and 25 December.
How long does the tour take
It takes two to three hours to explore Les Invalides.
Private guided tours often last two hours.
Best time to visit Les Invalides
The best time to visit the Les Invalides is as soon as they open at 10 am.
The crowd is at its minimum, which means you can take time exploring the exhibits and take better photographs.
It starts getting crowded after 11 am, and between 12 and 2 pm, the attraction reaches its peak capacity.
If you can’t make it early in the morning, the next best time to visit Les Invalides is after 2 pm.
Les Invalides facts
Les Invalides was formerly known as the National Residence of the Invalids.
It currently houses museums like the Musee de l’Armee of France, the Musée des Plans-Reliefs, and the Musée d’Histoire Contemporaine.
Check out some more facts about Les Invalides in Paris.
– Les Invalides was initially built as a hospital and retirement home for war veterans.
– The construction of Les Invalides was commissioned by King Louis XIV and started in 1671. Architect Libéral Bruant designed the complex.
– The centerpiece of Les Invalides is the magnificent Dôme des Invalides, a golden-domed chapel that houses the tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte. The dome stands at 107 meters (351 feet) and is one of the most recognizable landmarks in Paris.
– The Musée de l’Armée (Army Museum) is located within Les Invalides and is one of the largest military museums in the world.
– Les Invalides Museum is also home to the Musée des Plans-Reliefs, which displays a collection of detailed scale models of fortified cities and strategic locations in France.
– The French military academy, École Militaire, is situated within the premises of Les Invalides. It was founded in 1750 and is still in operation today, training officers for the French army.
– The complex has a vast courtyard, the Cour d’Honneur, lined with buildings and provides a grand entrance to Les Invalides.
– Les Invalides has witnessed several significant historical events, including military parades, state funerals, and the transfer of Napoleon’s remains to his final resting place in the Dôme des Invalides in 1840.
– St. Peter’s Basilica inspired the Dome at Les Invalides in Rome. The Basilica was the original Baroque dome.
– Les Invalides is located in the 7th arrondissement of Paris, one of the poshest districts in the center of Paris. The street is on the left bank of the River Seine and is home to several important monuments and museums. It is where the Eiffel Tower is and Champ de Mars.
FAQs about the Les Invalides
Here are some questions that visitors usually inquire about before visiting Les Invalides Paris.
Book your tickets for Les Invalides; children up to 17 years and EU citizens aged 18 to 25 can enter for free.
Les Invalides remains closed on 1 January, 1 May, and 25 December.
Les Invalides is the burial site of Napoleon I and is also famous for its beautiful golden dome.
Yes, the attraction is wheelchair accessible.
The ticket window closes 30 minutes before the Museum gets closed. Thus, we recommend booking tickets in advance.
Source
# Musee-armee.fr
# Wikipedia.org
# Britannica.com
# Tripadvisor.com
The travel specialists at TheBetterVacation.com use only high-quality sources while researching & writing their articles. We make every attempt to keep our content current, reliable and trustworthy.
Popular attractions in Paris